Group urges Selig to move 2011 All-Star Game

About three dozen people are protesting outside Nationals Park, urging commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix because of Arizona's new immigration legislation prior to a Washington Nationals baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

Sunday’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals was briefly interrupted by protesters urging commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix because of Arizona’s new immigration legislation.

A man emerged from the left-field stands in the fifth inning and ran into short right field after Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg grounded to short for the first out. As security guards were about to subdue the man, a woman ran onto the field from the right-field seats.

The two ran around the field, meeting in deep right-center, before they were caught by security. As they were being escorted from the field, a man and a woman holding a banner protesting the All-Star Game in Arizona ran into right field.

Before they could display the banner, a security guard ripped it from their hands, tackling one of them. As they were taken into custody, a bedsheet banner reading “Bud Selig Move All Star Game No SB 1070″ was unfurled from the facade over the batter’s eye in center field.

While the banner-toting protesters were taken off the field, security removed the sign in center field. The game was delayed about two minutes.

Before the game, about three dozen people protested outside Nationals Park. A banner reading “Bud Selig Move The All Stars Game No SB 0170″ that was unfurled from a parking garage was quickly removed.

Selig has declined to become involved in what he says is a political issue.

The demonstrators gathered outside the center-field gates at noon, briefly walking in a circle before security personnel ushered them into a blocked-off portion of N Street.

They handed out fliers and carried signs — some in Spanish, others in English — and chanted “Hey, baseball, let’s face it — Arizona is racist” and “Hey, Bud Selig: Move the game!”